Educating the Net Generation

An Australian project involving an investigation into students' and teachers' use of new technologies. Outputs include a Handbook of Findings for Practice and Policy, a Toolkit of Resources for Educators, and case studies in which emerging technologies were implemented in learning settings across the three participating universities.

Educating the Net Generation: Implications for learning and teaching in Australian Universities

Despite the considerable recent attention devoted to the 'Net Generation', few Australian studies have documented the characteristics of this group and little evidence has been provided to support claims made about the Net Generation and its implications for higher education in Australia. The 'Net Generation' or 'Digital Natives' are born roughly between 1980 and 1994 and have been characterised by their familiarity with and reliance on information and communication technologies. A number of commentators have argued that the digital culture in which the Net Generation has grown up has influenced their preferences and skills in a number of key areas related to education. Some commentators have also questioned the extent to which Universities and their staff are equipped to meet the needs of this incoming cohort of students.

This project has:

investigated how commencing first year students and their teachers use traditional and emerging technology-based tools in their everyday lives and to support student learning

drawn on the expertise of teachers and the results of this investigation to develop and implement pedagogically sound, technology-based tools to enhance student learning in local learning environments